Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikey Qubti.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mikey. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I founded the Orange County and Los Angeles based rock band Desert of Talking Shadows. We formed a year ago, last March of 2018 when I had just gotten an offer to open up for my good friend and up and coming blues guitarist Jared James Nichols at a sold out Viper Room show in April. I had been playing guitar for 11 years, but never sang lead in my life. I had always wanted be in the back and stick to guitar but over the years I could never find a front man or woman that would stick to whatever project or band I was in. When Jared asked me to open for him, I had no band and had barely started singing a month before that. I quickly decided to make the jump to the front of the stage and write a bunch of songs and sing AND play at the show for the first time in my life. I quickly called my longtime friend and bassist Jack Thomas. Next came, Kyle Vellanoweth, a local guitar player in the scene that I had jammed with a few times over the past year or two. And finally, we were recommended our drummer Detrick Forster through a mutual friend.
All 3 of them said yes immediately and we got to work getting ready for the show we only had one month to prepare for. We quickly built up material and played an ecstatic 30 minute set opening for Jared on April 21st, 2018. Ever since then, we’ve quickly gained attention in the local rock scene and garnered airplay from KLOS, WCCN Rock FM radio in Wisconsin, Planet Rock Radio in England, and a feature in Classic Rock Magazine as well. All of this was accomplished through the release of our first single “Crucify” last September, which we also did a music video for, directed by Jordan Wolfbauer (Badflower) and shot and edited by Colin McCaffrey (Badflower, Billy Talent).
We then earned opening slots for international touring acts such as Radkey out in Las Vegas, Graham Bonnett Band (former singer of Michael Schenker Group and Rainbow), and our good friends in a band called Them Evils who also have made a name for themselves in Orange County and LA and have gone on to open for big bands like The Pretty Reckless and Of Mice & Men. In just one single year we’ve quickly built an audience in both Los Angeles and Orange County. Currently this past August we just played a huge show at the world-famous Troubadour in LA in which we were billed as a main act. We also just released a brand new single “Give Me Something” which is available to listen to via all streaming platforms. We are now focused on jumping back into the studio to record more new music. If you’d like to check out our work you can follow us on Instagram @desertoftalkingshadows, on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, or at our website DesertofTalkingShadows.com.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a bumpy road, but fun nonetheless. As a young 20-year-old, independent musician from a small town, not a lot of people wanted to give my band and I a chance. Through hard work and persistence, we’ve gained opportunity after opportunity and not only exceeded expectations but every time we work with someone they enjoy us and our playing so much that we get asked back.
Please tell us about Desert of Talking Shadows.
We’re a young rock band that has a live show second to none. Our energy onstage is explosive and can capture the attention of a music lover of ANY genre and any age. Our sound consists of a 70’s and 90’s spin of Black Sabbath meets Nirvana and everything in between. Through great songwriting, heavy riffs, and epic guitar solos, we’re quickly gaining respect and attention in the rock community.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My old guitar teacher – Tapan Joshi. All of our parents and immediate family. And all of our friends and fans that support us mean the world to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: DesertofTalkingShadows.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Gene Kirkland (Troubadour shot, and Backstage dressing room shot), Michael Farrel Photography (underpass shot)
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